Walter Sisulu University

Bachelor of Accounting Science

Business, Commerce and Management Studies - Finance Economics and Accounting

Purpose and Rationale

Purpose

The purpose of the Accounting qualification is to:

  • Allow learners to inject their competencies into the business world.
  • Offer the highest professional and well-standardised curriculum that will ensure that learners compete and respond without fear of the needs of our economy.
  • Create and develop learners who can generally practice as accounting officers of small to medium-sized entities.
  • Empower learners with necessary and adequate related skills to improve their potential in financial situations.

Rationale

The rationale for the creation, development, and implementation of this qualification is to:

  • Benefit the learners of Republic South Africa with a qualification that will give suitable theoretical background for those who wish to qualify as Chartered Accountants South Africa (CASA).
  • Allow learners to further their studies to Postgraduate levels.
  • Provide and offer the most suitable qualification that will allow learners to understand and respond to greater challenges facing financial and operational growth of our entities.
  • Allow learners a recognized and well-deserved benefit of occupying significant positions of well-established branches of the economy.
  • Offer a qualification that responds to a severe shortage of Black Accountants.
  • Offer a qualification that will enable learners to create and manage self-employment opportunities and possibly inject their competencies into our growing economy.
  • Entitle a learner to enter into a Postgraduate or Honors program.
  • Alternatively, the qualification entitles the learner to enter the third year of the proposed fourth-year accounting structure in South Africa.
  • After completion of this qualification, a learner will be able to enter into a learnership with a Professional Accounting body other than SAICA.
  • Alternatively, the learner can enter into a learnership within the Chartered Accountant profession.

Outcomes

  1. Audit manual and computerised business cycles, including networks.
  2. Prepare, analyse and interpret complex financial statements for companies, applying Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
  3. Manage the financial aspects of business up to corporate level.
  4. Determine and apply various techniques whereby timeous and accurate information could be made available for decision-making and control.
  5. Prepare tax returns for individuals and the corporate bodies, and be able to supply sound tax-related advises.
  6. Apply communication principles to a variety of communication activities, contexts for resolving communication problems effectively.
  7. Plan, organise, lead and control business activities.

Assessment Criteria

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

  • Understand the nature of auditing and the auditing profession.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the regulatory environment and the audit process.
  • Identify risk indicators and discuss risk factors.
  • Understand the difference of risks on the financial statements level and assertion level.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

  • Collect and manipulate information to prepare financial statements.
  • Analyse and critically evaluate financial information.
  • Apply measurement and recognition requirements of elements of financial statements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

  • Identify and advise on suitable forms of financial management.
  • Apply abilities to routine reporting involving cost determination, price setting, and inventory valuation.
  • Explain and apply principles of the Companies Act and Corporate Governance Act.
  • Select suitable techniques for investment evaluation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

  • Manage financial assets and evaluate treasury.
  • Assess the value of an entity.
  • Identify useful information for internal use and decision management.
  • Derive optimal capital structure under different economic assumptions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

  • Analyse transactions for sound tax advice.
  • Prepare financial statements and tax returns accordingly.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

  • Process operating cost data against expected revenue.
  • Communicate business decisions effectively in written or oral formats.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

  • Apply principles of the Companies Act and Corporate Governance Act.
  • Describe and contrast different corporate governance structures.
  • Analyse corporate governance issues.

Integrated Assessment:

  • Institutional policy requires specific assessments per year or semester.
  • Formative assessments include written tests and assignments.
  • Summative assessment is a three-hour exam at the end of the semester or year.

Learners can be assessed through:

  • Writing tests.
  • Assignments and projects.
  • Tutorial activities.
  • Group classwork.
  • Large and small group presentations.

Purpose: To ensure sufficient understanding and grasp of the outcomes.

Qualification Details

Type
National First Degree(Min 480)
NQF Level
08
Min. Credits
480
SAQA Source
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Walter Sisulu University
Description
Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is a comprehensive university located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was established in 2005 through the merger of three institutions: the University of Transkei, the Eastern Cape Technikon, and the Border Technikon. WSU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including arts and humanities, business and management sciences, education, health sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. The university is committed to providing quality education and promoting social justice, equity, and sustainable development. WSU has multiple campuses spread across different regions of the Eastern Cape, including Mthatha, Butterworth, Buffalo City (East London), and Queenstown. Each campus offers a unique learning environment and facilities to cater to the diverse needs of students. The university is named after Walter Sisulu, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC). It aims to honor his legacy by fostering a culture of activism, social responsibility, and community engagement among its students and staff. Overall, Walter Sisulu University strives to be a leading institution of higher learning in South Africa, providing accessible and relevant education to empower individuals and contribute to the development of the Eastern Cape region and the country as a whole.

This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.